Manchester Ward 1 Alderman Kevin Cavanaugh, a candidate for the District 16 state Senate seat in an upcoming special election, on Tuesday will formally announce endorsements by 21 area leaders, including the wife of the late state senator he hopes to succeed.

The endorsements were provided first to WMUR.

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Patti McGilvray, the widow of the late Sen. Scott McGilvray, said in endorsing Cavanaugh, “Kevin and I both grew up in Manchester, and I've known him for a long time. I'm confident that he will bring many of Scott's same priorities to the Senate, and I'm proud to support him."

In addition to serving as Ward 1 alderman, Cavanaugh is employed by FairPoint Communications and is the assistant business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2320. He is a 32-year member of the union and has coached football at Manchester Memorial and West high school, as well as youth sports teams.

When McGilvray died at age 51 in March, he was the president of the NEA-New Hampshire teachers union and was also a well-known high school football coach in Manchester.

A Democratic primary in the special election will be held on June 6 between Cavanaugh and Manchester attorney James Normand. The general election will be held on July 25.

Former state Sen. David Boutin of Hooksett is the lone Republican candidate and Jason Dubrow of Dunbarton is the lone Libertarian candidate.

Manchester At-Large Alderman Dan O’Neil is also endorsing Cavanaugh, calling him a “responsible representative for his constituents.”

Hooksett Town Councilor Timothy Tsantoulis; Manchester School Board member Sarah Ambrogi; Manchester School Board member Erika Connors; Manchester School Board member Mary Ngwanda Georges; former Hooksett School Board Chair Maura Ouellette; Candia School Board member Kim Royer; and Manchester School Board member Leslie Want.

Cavanaugh said he is “incredibly grateful to have the backing of these great community leaders."

District 16 is composed of Bow, Candia, Dunbarton, Hooksett and Wards 1, 2 and 12 in Manchester. In 2016, McGilvray became to first Democrat to win the district, despite the fact that the district was also won by Republican former Sen. Kelly Ayotte and Republican Gov. Chris Sununu.

Boutin did not seek re-election in 2016, as McGilvray defeated Republican state Rep. Joseph Duarte of Candia. But Boutin has decided to try to win the seat back in the special election.